Can lifter



June 11, 1929. w. E. CULP 1.716.849

CAN LIFTER Filed Sept. 14, 1928 Patented June 11, 1929.

warren STATES \VILLIAM E. GULF, OF MONON, INDIANA.

CAN LIFTER.

Application filed September 14, 1928. Serial No. 366,052.

The inventtion relates to can lifters and has for its object to provide a device of this character comprising a slidable handle memher having its arms slidably' mounted in the ends of a cross bar and connected to transverse members slidably mounted on arms of can gripping jaws, and forming means whereby said jaws may be forced towards each other for gripping the can or away from each other for releasing the can. Also to provide the lower ends of the jaws with horizontal members adapted to be forced under a can or to grip the upper end thereof.

A further object is to provide the cross bar with eyes through which the arms of the slidable loop extenchand with loops forming eyes and disposed to the inside of the looped connections between the various arms with the cross bar for limiting the lateral movement of the various arms on the cross bar.

gripping jaw member arms with eyes pivotally mounted on the cross bar and the arms of the other gripping jaw with eyes pivoted on the cross bar between the cross bar eyes.

A further object is to form one of the upwardly extending handle members and one of the gripping aws from a single piece of wire bent to form and having its opposite sides provided with eyes through which the transverse bar extends.

A further object is to provide the gripping jaws with segmentally shaped can engaging flanges having rolls extending around the transverse portion of the jaws.

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the can lifter.

Figure 2 is an enlarged front elevation of a portion of the can lifter showing the transverse bar.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional View taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4.- is a vertical transverse sectional A further object is to provide one of the view through one of the gripping jaw plates.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the stationary handle of the device and 2 the movable handle, which handle is forced downwardly when it is desired to grip a can between the U-shaped gripping jaws 3 and 4. The gripping jaw 3, as well as the handle 1, is formed from a single piece of wire bent to form the transverse portion 5, the downwardly extending arms 6 and jaw 3.

The arms 6 are provided. with eyes 7 in termediate their ends and through which eyes the portions 8 of the transversely disposed bar 9 extends, therefore it will be seen with the handle member 1 stationary, the bar 9 will remain stationary when the handle member 2 is forced downwardly. The arms 6, below the transverse bar 9, are slidably mounted in apertures 10 of the horizontal plates 11, and said plates 11 are forced upwardly and downwardly by the movement of the movable handle 2, the arms 12 of which are connected to the plates by loops 13 extending through apertures 14 in the plates, therefore it will be seen that plates 11 will move with the downward or upwardmovement of the handle member 2, but the handle ll'lOlHbCl .1 will maintain the aw 3, as well the transverse bar 9 in constant relation to each other. The jaw a has upwardly extending arms 15, which incline inwardly and upwardly as well as the lower end of the arm 6 of the jaw 3, and which arms 15 are slidably mounted in apertures 16 of the horizontal plates 10 and terminate at their upper ends in eyes 17 pivotally mounted on the portions 8 of the transverse bar 9. It will be noted when the plates 11 are forced downwardly on the diverging portions of the arms 15 and 6, the lower ends of the jaws 3 and 4 will be forced together, thereby forcing the segmental jaw carrying plates towards each other, either under a can or jaw or in gripping engagement with the upper end thereof. The plates 18 are provided with sharpened edges 19 in the plane of a surface on which the device may be placed, therefore it will be seen the plates will easily move to a position beneath a receptacle, for instance when a can or jar is in a boiler submerged in water.

The transverse portions 20 of the lower ends of the gripping jaws 3 are segmentally shaped and disposed within similarly shaped rolls 21, therefore it will be seen that the plates 18 may be formed from sheet metal bent and stamped to form.

Secured at 22 to the ends of the plates 11 are looped members 23 adapted to engage opposite sides of a can, jar or other receptacle for preventing tilting thereof during the handling operation. It will be noted that the transverse bar 9, to the inside of the eyes 17 and 7, is provided with loops 2st which positively maintain the eyes 7 and 17 in proper position and against inward movement on. the bar 9, and the outer ends of the portions 8 of the transverse bar 9 are provided with horizontal eyes 25 in which the arms 12 of the movable handle 2 are slidably mounted.

From the above it will be seen that a pan or jar litter is provided, which can be cheaply constructed from wire bent to form, thereby obviating the use of special machinery or machined parts, and the various eyes are formed by bending the wire to form for forming the various pivotal points and bearings for slid-able parts, as well as utilized in the transverse bar for limiting inward movement 01" parts.

The invention having been-setlorth what is claimed as new and useful is:

l. A jar litter comprising diverging U-shaped jaws, the arms of the U-shaped jaws inclining upwardly and towards each other, the arms of one of said U-shaped jaws terminating in an inverted U-shaped handle member, a second inverted U shaped handle member, a transverse bar carried by the first mentioned U-shaped handle memer, eyes carried by the ends of the transva'se bar and which the arms of the second mentioned U-shaped handle member are slidably mounted, plates slidably mounted on the arms of the U-sl1aped jaws, and through apertures of which said arms extend, the arms of the second mentioned handle member being connected to the plate between the arms of the jaws, the arms of one of the jaws and of the first mentioned han dle member having looped connection with the transverse bar and loops formed in the transverse bar adjacent said last named loop. a

2. A jar lifter (JOnlPl'lSlllQ a stationary inverted U-shaped handle member, the arms of said stationary handle member having; looped eyes therein, a transverse bar extending through said looped eyes, eyes carried by the ends of the transverse bar, looped eyes carried by the transverse bar to the inside of the stationary handle member arms, said arms terminating in a U-shaped flexible jaw, plates slidably mounted on the arms of the flexible jaw, a slidable handle, arnn-s carried by the slidable handle and extending downwardly through the eyes carried by the ends of the transverse bar, a pivoted lJ-shaped jaw, arms carried by the U-shaped jaw and extending upwardly through the plates and pivoted to the transverse bar between the oyes thei of, jaw retaining loops carried by the ends of the plates, and jaw engaging plates carried by the jaws.

3. A jar lifter comprising; a stationary U-shaped handle member, the arms of the stationary handle member terminating in a U-shaped jaw, a pivoted U-shaped jawcarried by the stationary handle member, said jaws being in downward diverging; relation plates slidably mounted on opposite sides of the jaws, a slidable U-shaped' handle member, the arms of the slidable U-shaped handle member being connected to the plates, a transverse bar forming pivotal connection between the pivoted jaws and eyes carried by said bar and through which the arms of the slidable handle member extend.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

lVILLIAM E. CULP. 

